Milwaukee Purchased Rights to the Forty-Fifth Pick
At the November 18, 2020 draft, Milwaukee acquired the No. 45 selection that became forward Jordan Nwora from Orlando. The Magic received two future second-round rights in return, including a choice later identified as 2022 No. 35 Max Christie and another later tied to a 2026 second-round position. This was a transaction in unsigned draft rights rather than a swap of established NBA player contracts. Milwaukee was looking for an inexpensive perimeter forward who could develop behind a contending veteran core, while Orlando chose to spread the value of one mid-second-round selection over later drafts.
Nwora Played for a Championship Bucks Team
Nwora joined the Bucks as a rookie and supplied reserve wing opportunities while Milwaukee won the 2021 NBA championship. His contributions were not equivalent to those of Giannis Antetokounmpo or Khris Middleton, and he did not become the decisive Finals scorer. Nonetheless, he appeared for an eventual championship organization and continued to play NBA minutes for Milwaukee in subsequent seasons. Those are direct receiving-team benefits from an inexpensive draft choice. Nwora's later NBA opportunities after leaving Milwaukee must not be added to his Bucks production, and he was not acquired from Orlando as a veteran with an existing NBA record.
Orlando Secured Two Distinct Future Selection Assets
The Magic's benefit was draft flexibility rather than an immediate reserve player. One future choice later entered the 2022 No. 35 rights chain associated with Christie, while the other became a later 2026 second-round slot. Orlando could keep or exchange either asset under the relevant conveyance terms; that did not mean Christie necessarily played NBA games for the Magic. The later draft identities need to follow the true recipient clubs after any additional trades. Counting NBA performances elsewhere as Orlando production would overstate what the original agreement itself delivered, but dismissing two future choices as useless would also be unreasonable.
A Useful Bucks Reserve Against Two Chances for Orlando
Milwaukee succeeded in selecting a forward who reached its roster during a title-winning period. Orlando gained two genuine draft opportunities and could decide separately how to realize their value over time. The Magic's flexibility earns a small retrospective edge over the Bucks' modest individual playing contribution, although it isn't a runaway win. A fair assessment distinguishes Nwora's real Bucks minutes from the championships won by the team's much larger core and from later players associated with Orlando's traded selections. The draft-rights exchange was a developmental investment on both sides rather than a roster-defining transaction.
Final Verdict
Magic Win, narrowly. Orlando earns B+ for obtaining two future second-round choices in exchange for the rights to No. 45 Jordan Nwora, including a selection later associated with Max Christie. Milwaukee receives B because Nwora actually played reserve minutes for its 2021 championship team. Draft assets later moved through other deals mustn't be credited as Orlando NBA playing seasons.